The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-20

BY their intelligent Industry, LETT Tor all fu-
ture generations country Of unusual pres
psri,y and Of unboundsd promise" With
few moro appropriate and well chosen re-
marks. Mr.. Howland closed HE address.
The president then read letter from
Judge Cation to the Association. 1t WAS ex.
pressivs Of the Judges pleasure At knowing
Of one more meeting Of these sturdy old
settlers, and his sincere regret at not being
able to be present.
The president then announced that a.
there we're no singers present the music Of
the programme would, of necessity, b
omitted, and the Association would stand
adjourned till 2 o'clock.
was the next thing in order. This WAS Of
Q most elaborate order. II Is notorious
fact, anyway, that old settlers know how 70
provide for the inner man in q most famous
manner. Perhaps it is impolite to tell what
the old settlers had for dinner, but the FREE
TRADER bird, lowering in the air. couldn't
help noticing the elegant and superabundant
array Of good things that were spread be-
fore the various groups that were scattered
about the grounds. Ed. Clark was there
with the extras Of the occasion, and there
was barrel of water to quench the thirst
of the most scrupulously temperate. At
o'clock sharp the president called to order
the
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The singing by girls that was down
on the programme had to be dispensed with
for the simple reason that the "girls ~ did
not show up and announce their readiness
to sing. They were probably either out in
the steamboats, or engaged in drinking lem.
onsde. For short speeches the president
called out FIVE gentlemen, who responded in
a happy manner. The first gentleman called
upon was Hon. B. c. Cook, of Chicago. Mr..
Cooks speech was good. His topic was the
American home. He took the idea of the
pioneer, as mentioned by another speaker,
of building up free home for himself and
family, and he applied that idea to all the
homes, not only in La Sale county, but In
all the United States. How different from
any other institution in the world was the
American home. 1t was, the speaker said,
the very key to our country's growth;
and what applied to the country as whole,
was equally applicable to this county BY
itself. In the home lay the hope Of our
country's future. There the future Ameri.
cans were being trained; and as the boys
and girls were taught bad or good in the
homes of today, just in that proportion
would our country grow worse or better in
the future. The speaker then mentioned
some points of danger to the home. He
went for the saloon with peculiar emphasis
as being the one leading curse of this coun-
try. He said that any man who encouraged
a saloon in any way, or who ever entered
one to take drink, was bad citizen, BE-
cause he assisted the greatest enemy this
country knows.
The president then called upon Judge
HOLSTER, who talked for few minutes. He
spoke of the old times in this county, and
recounted many pleasant incidents of early
pioneer life here.
Mr. Perry Armstrong was the next speak
or. His remarks were in the same spirit ~
those of others of the speakers. He a.
no set speech, but merely added his
voice and good feeling to the interest of the
occasion.
The president then called upon the Rev.
W. Batcheller, who could respond but brief
ly. Mr.. Batcheller is over ninety years
old, and the most of his speaking has been
done. His voice was clear, however, and he
spoke with considerable fervor for one 70
advanced in years.
Rev. M. X. Whittlesey was the last speak.
or. He recalled the olden times with Ger
tain flush of pride, and was glad to be able
to meet once more with these, his old pie
neer friends. One year more had passed in
the continuous flow Of the stream which WAS
bearing US all toward eternity. MIR. Whit
tleseys remarks were pleasing, and were
we'll received.
The president then called for the report
of the secretary and treasurer. ]. c. Eber.
sol reported that the secretary's papers he'd
in some manner been mislaid, but he read
and submitted his treasurer's report, which
was as follows:
TREAsURER's REPORT.
Expenses of hall rent last year, IS; Iabsr
seating the grove, Sill, printing, S9.l7. All
money collected 'ras used and our president
paid tie balance, which ought to be paid.
There was collected for last year, Sl6.9O.
There has been raised for this 18th picnic
before to-day, $40.
The programme of the day was then at
close, and the people present put in the re-
mainder of the afternoon in viewing the
grounds, riding on the steamboats,, or in
social intercourse. There were.. hung up On
the south side Of the band stand number
of relics, the property of ]. c. Ebersol,
which are certainly worthy Of mention.
They were A pitchfork, made by James